Black Marlin Posted May 21, 2010 Share Posted May 21, 2010 Hello chaps and chapesses My name's Gavin. I'm a PhD student at Aberdeen Uni, and I'm also an 00-gauge modeller. I've been building a 16' x 10' roundy-roundy layout called Starlingford in my parents' loft for the last few years. Progress is slow, because I'm from Northern Ireland and my parents live there still, so I only get to model when I'm home, which isn't as frequent as I'd like. The model itself is partially completed, but there are still lots of jobs (some quite major) to do, and the baseboard has just grown further with the addition of a fiddleyard. I'm afraid - and here I wish to hide from the wrath of modellers and enthusiasts far more expert than I - that Starlingford conforms to no particular region or period, and I run trains from whenever or wherever happens to amuse me at the time (in my defence, I don't run wildly different things simultaneously!). The main station, whose nameboards are printed but not yet applied, is called 'Perdido Street', after one of my favourite books. I have a definite preference for the LNER (and would be very interested to learn where I could get replacement transfers to renumber and rebrand a WD 2-8-0 into an O7), so I think the first images I post should feature that fine company... Regards, Gavin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thirty2a Posted May 21, 2010 Share Posted May 21, 2010 Hi There, this looks like a lot of fun and well put together. Tony Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudgeloco Posted May 21, 2010 Share Posted May 21, 2010 Looking good Gavin, I enjoyed the pictures. Took me back to my attic days - way way back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arpleymodeller Posted May 21, 2010 Share Posted May 21, 2010 Hi Gavin Good layout with a realistic looking mainline -good for running long freights Also I really like the scratchbuilt castle Keep us posted with developments and pictures Regards Lewis Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
7APT7 Posted May 21, 2010 Share Posted May 21, 2010 Hi Gavin Nice to see your Layout on here. I love the Brigdes and the scenery. Do you have a track plan for this Layout...? Cheers Jamie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Marlin Posted May 21, 2010 Author Share Posted May 21, 2010 Thanks, folks, for the welcome! This is a very rough trackplan (that doesn't incorporate the new fiddleyard, which comes off the bottommost right-hand corner): Apologies for the poor quality of the drawing, but Xtracad is something of a closed book to me... Oh, and here are some more pictures lest you think I am partisan about the LNER: Cheers, Gavin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointstaken Posted May 21, 2010 Share Posted May 21, 2010 Having followed much of its progress on another forum, I can confirm that there is much excellent modelling on Gavin's layout. Looking forward to further progress reports and photos. Dennis Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
7APT7 Posted May 21, 2010 Share Posted May 21, 2010 Hi Gavin Thanks for the Plan of the Layout, and the extra photos, there look great mate. Jamie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob D2 Posted May 21, 2010 Share Posted May 21, 2010 that looks a lot of fun.Must be a bit frustrating only having a fiddle when you get home ?! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Marlin Posted May 21, 2010 Author Share Posted May 21, 2010 that looks a lot of fun. Must be a bit frustrating only having a fiddle when you get home ?! You know, I had to read that twice... Yes, it's very frustrating. And also peculiarly expensive. You get trapped into this hideous loop of "I wish I could do something on the railway now. Oh well, the new Thompson L1 will look nice on it. Oh no, I've just spent £70. But it'll look good when I get it home. When I'm home, I can work on the railway. I wish I could do something on the railway now. Oh well, the new 12-wheel Pullmans will look nice on it..." (repeat until bankruptcy threatens). On the other hand, when I am home, I sometimes take serendipitously nice pics, like this one, on which no manipulation of any kind has been performed... This is the very last smoking 28xx Hattons ever sold. Which makes it, I suspect, among the last made before Hornby got ready with their retooling of the class... Here it is again at Perdido Street Station (at an earlier stage of the station's development) at the head of an 18-wagon rake of 'Ocean' coal wagons: Hope these appeal. Gavin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vac_basher Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Hi Gavin, That's looking good. I really like the scenery and trees. Very nice. As a frequent visitor to Ireland (both North and South ) I find it curious that you're from N.I. yet model British subjects. Is there a reason for that, like did you used to live in GB; or is it simply just what interests you? The reason I find that curious, although I don't know a great deal about the railways in Ireland, I have seen some charming stations over in the emerald isle. Great stuff to model, I would have thought (although I'd imagine your locos over there aren't as interesting as what we have here - I could be wrong, of course ) One of the most memorable lines I've traveled on in Ireland is the Dublin to Sligo line. Some of the stations on that line are much the same as they would have been 70 years ago. Stunning. Are there many modelers like yourself, who model British outline, over in N.I.? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Marlin Posted May 22, 2010 Author Share Posted May 22, 2010 Hi Gavin, That's looking good. I really like the scenery and trees. Very nice. As a frequent visitor to Ireland (both North and South ) I find it curious that you're from N.I. yet model British subjects. Is there a reason for that, like did you used to live in GB; or is it simply just what interests you? The reason I find that curious, although I don't know a great deal about the railways in Ireland, I have seen some charming stations over in the emerald isle. Great stuff to model, I would have thought (although I'd imagine your locos over there aren't as interesting as what we have here - I could be wrong, of course ) One of the most memorable lines I've traveled on in Ireland is the Dublin to Sligo line. Some of the stations on that line are much the same as they would have been 70 years ago. Stunning. Are there many modelers like yourself, who model British outline, over in N.I.? Hi Vac Yes, there are a lot of British outline modellers in NI. The simple reason for this is that British outline stock is what's available RTR. Until the Murphy's Models stuff started emerging a couple of years ago there was very little by way of RTR stock available: a few Lima Class 201 diesels and some repainted coaches and a Sprinter and that was about it. Everything else had to be kit-built, and these tended to come from small suppliers who didn't produce large runs and whose kits were never on sale in shops and therefore depended on word-of-mouth. Additionally, there isn't a huge railway infrastructure in NI - there were (I think) only 3 4-6-0s in the country (not 3 classes; 3 locos!) so there just isn't the opportunity for manufacturers to make large numbers of them. Bachmann have released a Jinty and a mogul (a reliveried Southern N) to cater to the steam market, as both these types were used (in, again, miniscule numbers) in the country. A more encouraging sign is the Belfast Modelling Shop now commissioning small runs of standard items adapted to local circumstances - one I am quite looking forward to is an Oxford diecast Green Goddess fire engine with anti-riot mesh over the windows, as used during the firemen's strikes during the Troubles. Bachmann is also producing limited numbers of Irish-outline infrastructure in the Scenecraft resin range, most notably an NIR version of their diesel shed. So, Starlingford is built on the basis of what I could easily obtain, and what I liked the look of, rather than what is local to me. I would love a model of Maedbh, for instance, but to create one would probably involve hacking up a Jubilee and that's both an expensive and uncertain prospect. In the meantime, here are some diesels... regards, Gavin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Marlin Posted September 16, 2010 Author Share Posted September 16, 2010 Hello all once again. My word it's been a long time since I last updated this thread! And much has changed (well, alright, not massive amounts, but still, enough to be significant). First of all, o be still my beating heart, it appeared in the 'Readers Layouts' section of BRM in August. Second of all, I was able to take some time at home and actually get some worrk done... The largest and most obvious change is the replacement (at long last!) of the 'temporary' blue paper (which went down 2 years ago...) with proper water - in this case, Noch 'Sea Foil' after other, vastly more cunning plans fell through... (Hmmm...I really must get round to repainting those fishing boats...) Secondly, a new locomotive has been added to the roster, a fact I blame almost entirely on Tony Wright's rapturous review of same. Mind you, it is a very impressive model... (Clearly this pic was taken before the fence was glued down!) I've also begun construction of the cutting leading up to the double tunnel mouth: And the town is beginning to develop too I have more pics, and more detailed information, to come Regards, Gavin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Marlin Posted January 18, 2011 Author Share Posted January 18, 2011 I really must remember to update this thread more regularly. Hello everyone. I had had great plans to make progress on Starlingford over Christmas, but, due to ill health in the family, my plans went the way of the best-laid plans of mice and men... Anyway, I did manage to relay the track off the viaduct, where a noticeable dip had had locomotive bogies derailing; and I've been repainting the viaduct itself to lose some of the horrid Hornby plasticiness of same; and there are a couple of new locos that have joined the roster... Anyway, some videos and some pics for you to enjoy: A Bachmann K3 annoys some Presier geese on the quayside: A Bachmann 9F simmers in the industrial yard: A Hornby T9 emerges from the tunnel mouth and onto the newly-repainted vaiduct: City of Lancaster, a Christmas present, hauls a 9-coach sleeper train over the suspension bridge while in the background Royal Inniskilling Fusilier leads the night mail over the viaduct: Royal Inniskilling Fusilier, at the head of the mail train, seen mid-stream: More waterfowl investigate the fishing party: And, as the 9F looms in the background, it's clear that cork, hanging basket liner and the repainting of the Hornby viaduct has transformed this scene: I hope you like the pics, everyone; and the videos ought to put a smile on your face for 5 minutes at least! Thanks chaps, Gavin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Hudson Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Three things to like about this layout 1. Looks like train playing at it's unpretentious best 2. Long trains 3. Joke after signature Keep up the posts Andrew ps I haven't seen that castle in 30 years Airfix re issue? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Marlin Posted January 18, 2011 Author Share Posted January 18, 2011 Three things to like about this layout 1. Looks like train playing at it's unpretentious best 2. Long trains 3. Joke after signature Keep up the posts Andrew ps I haven't seen that castle in 30 years Airfix re issue? Hi George I'm glad you like the layout! There's still an awful lot of work to be done on it, but it's getting there, and I'm having a great deal of fun along the way. I really do like just playing trains, so having a layout that facilitates that is what I strive for. And one is flattered that one is to be considered 'unpretentious'...! As for long trains - yes, I admit that this is something else that I really like. I have something of a bee in my bonnet about train-set trains - to me, Flying Scotsman on 3 coaches just looks wrong. I am very fortunate to have the space that I have, and I don't take it for granted. As for the joke - I'm glad you like it. I confess it amused me mightily when I thought it up for a newspaper article years ago And finally, the castle is not a reissue but the original! It was my dad's, when he was a boy - all I have done is repaint it and add ivy. Thanks for taking the time to comment, Regards, Gavin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 George is absolutely right - I couldn't put it better myself. Have fun! Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Marlin Posted January 19, 2011 Author Share Posted January 19, 2011 Thanks Pete By the way, if you think the castle is old...have you seen the station preceding it? Regards, Gavin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 45156 Posted January 19, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 19, 2011 I like what I see here - a layout with no pretention to a specific era or region, it's clearly a run what you like operation, and as such is just as valid as those layouts which are at a sepcific date/era/location. Yours and the more region specific offerings on here prove just how diverse our hobby is, and that there is room for everybody and everything. I hope to see more of this one on the future, and thanks for posting this thread. Regards Stewart Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
50030 Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Fantastic layout, and it's given me a few idea's for my layout, now for a totally off topic question... The white stuff you have in your loft ceiling for insulation, what is it and where is it from?? I'm looking to insulate my loft soon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Kris Posted January 19, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 19, 2011 The inset track in the goods yard looks effective. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Marlin Posted October 9, 2013 Author Share Posted October 9, 2013 Yikes. How long has it been? Two-and-a-half years? Goodness. In the wise words of Kermit the Frog: "Time's fun when you're having flies." So what's changed since I last appeared on here? My personal circumstances, a little: I was a shop assistant in Modelzone in Aberdeen, then the shift supervisor, then the assistant manager...then unemployed. (I start work again on Monday, lest anyone be concerned). I'm still battering away at this thrice-damned PhD. And I have been doing (frankly, too little) modelling of Starlingford. Here, at least, are some nice pictures. I hope you like them. That ought to be enough to going on with! Regards, Gavin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Marlin Posted January 10, 2015 Author Share Posted January 10, 2015 I have made progress!The embankment that I was working on has been built: As has the military encampment I was also working on: And I have taken the opportunity to run some trains too! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold fishytrains Posted January 10, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 10, 2015 Just found this thread. The work you have done on the layout is fantastic. I fully understand the lack of time on the layout, I too spend most of the year living away from home, though in my case it is my own home! Look forward to seeing more progress when you get time. Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Marlin Posted October 16, 2015 Author Share Posted October 16, 2015 I have made even more progress! But please, see for yourselves... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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